This new proposed law would have allowed residents to consume "two or three drinks" and still drive.

Councilor Danny Healy-Rae, who also owns a pub, argued that the measure would not lead to more drunk driving deaths on rural roads. He also said that it could actually reduce the risk of suicide. He told TheJournal.ie:

A lot of these people are living in isolated rural areas where there's no public transport of any kind, and they end up at home looking at the four walls, night in and night out, because they don't want to take the risk of losing their license...These characters are being isolated now at home, and a lot of them falling into depression.

The measure was passed by Kerry County's Council, five votes to three, while many councillors were absent or abstained from voting, The Journal reported.

To go into effect, the measure needed the approval of the Department of Justice.

It was shot down by Justice Minister Alan Shatter, who called the idea "grossly irresponsible," according to the AP (via Yahoo!).